The current exhibit in the Library’s Special Collections is not only beautiful, but functional as well.

The exhibit, A Collector’s Whimsy: The Canes and Walking Sticks of R.C. Nunley is a display of canes and walking sticks, all owned by local businessman R.C. Nunley. There are 44 canes on display, several out of the several hundred Nunley has collected over the years.

The extensive collection began in the 1960s when Nunley picked up two canes from an estate sale in Hartford, Indiana.

Nunley planned to loan the canes out to people who needed support while walking, but didn’t have canes of their own.

Walking sticks and canes are not the same thing. Walking sticks are used specifically for decoration (either on display or as a fashion accessory) while a cane is used as support for people who need it to walk.

The pieces on display are divided into four categories.

The first part of the display is made up of formal canes. While these were used as support, they were also decorative, as well.

The formal canes were the “plainest” of the canes (compared to the rest of them) on exhibit, but in no way are they ugly.

One of the formal canes had a round handle carved from white and brown marble. Several other formal canes had intricately shaped handles in such shapes as hatchets and fish. Another cane (made in 1957) was carved in such a way that it took on a rope-like appearance.

Another group of canes on display were folk art canes and walking sticks. These usually weren’t used for walking, but were made as a form of artistic expression.

One walking stick had a “twisted” bottom and was red and tan. On its top was a clear glass bird. Another cane was topped with a carved dog head (shaped like a dachshund’s). The head looked like it had been stained red and tan.

Still another cane was shaped like a cobra. “Scales” were carved into the cane and orange glass beads were inlaid as eyes. Yet another cane had a UT style ‘T’ carved into it, and was painted Volunteer orange and white.

The next part of the exhibit, the souvenir cane exhibit, is the most varied part of the exhibit.

The canes were made to be souvenirs from tourist destinations and as advertisements for the places. There are eight other countries represented in this part of the exhibit, including Kenya, Germany, Mexico and Japan.

A cane from Louisville was shaped like one of its famous baseball bats, a Louisville Slugger. A cane from Africa was topped with a carved, brightly painted parrot. Another cane, from West Germany, was covered with travel-sticker like plates, each representing a part of Germany.

The final part of the exhibit is not only the smallest part of the exhibit, but the most interesting. The Swiss-army knife like gadget canes were made to serve several different purposes.

Canes were made that could be used as seats, fishing poles or even miniature cameras.

A cane made as a seat was one of the ones on display. Another cane doubles as a yardstick. Yet another of the canes is not only an umbrella, but also has a “turf tip.”

The Exhibit is currently on display in the Special Collections room of the Paul Meek Library. The room is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m